Electric switch



Dec. 4, 1928. v 1,693,608

s. LIPPERT ELECTRIC swi'T'cH Filed June 15, 192.4

Jamwe/ Zappa/"2 Gwen-121.15

Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNETED STATES PATENT OFFWE.

SAMUEL LII 'PERT, OF GARFIELD HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OUTLOOK MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF GLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed June 18, 1924. Serial No. 719,721.

a comparatively simple and inexpensive construction that is convenient of installation, is very durable, and is immune from disorder, so that when once installed it requires no further attention.

With the foregoing objects in view, along with other more detailed ones hereinafter appearing, the invention may be defined as consisting of the combination and arrangement of parts-set forth in the claims annexed hereto and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved switch, with the casing broken away to reveal the enclosed mechanism; Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the switch, showing it installed and in closed position; Fig.3 is'a transverse vertical section through the switch on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the switch with the cover a removed and showing it in normal or open position; Fig. 5 is a detail showing the contact pin, the insulating bushing therefor and the pin carrying lever in separated condition, the bushing and lever being in section; and Fig. 6 shows the parts of Fig. 5, assembled.

The casing 1, which is box-like in form, is preferably drawn or otherwise formed from a single piece of sheet metal and has an open top from the opposite ends of'which flanges 2 project. A cover 3, having a peripheral flange 4, fits the top of the casing and extends over the flanges 2 andcis adapted to be connected to'said flanges by bolts 5. that are engaged through registering holes'in the ends of the cover and in the flanges.

An angular lever 8, which preferably consists of a sheet metal stamping, is pivotally supported within the casing upon a shaft 9 which extends transversely of the casing and has its ends projected through holes in the side walls thereof and is upset or riveted therebeyond to hold the shaft against longitudinal movement. The cottom wall of the The inner end of the'lever 8 has a hole I through which a bushing 12 of suitable insulating material, such as fiber, is adapted to be engaged, the original external. diameter of the bushing being enough less than the diameter of the hole in the lever to permit easy insertion of the bushing, the original diameter of the bushing beingjshown in Fig. 5. After the bushing is in place within the hole of the lever, a contact pin 13 is adapted to be pressed or forced through the bushing, and because of the fact that the diameter of the pin is greater than the original internal diameter of the bushing,.tl1e bushing is expanded on opposite sides ofthe lever 8 and is thus positively held against longitudinal movement, and the tight fit of the pin 13 within the bushi'nginsures it against shifting endwise.

Applied to the inside of one of the end walls of the casing is a block 15 of insulating material that is cut away 'at each end to provide seats 16 for the bent over ends 17 of contact leaves 18. The contact leaves and the block 15 are secured to the end wall of the casing by bolts whichproject through the casing wall and have nuts applied to their outer ends thereby to provide binding posts 19. The contact springs 18 are curved on an are substantially concentric with the shaft 9 and are in a position to receive between them the contact pin 13 when the inner end of the lever 8 is swung toward the block 15.

A spring 20 has a central U-shaped portion engaged over the upper edge of the inner end of the lever and, after taking a suitable number of turns about the shaft 9 on each side of the lever, has its opposite ends disposed upon the bottom wall ofthe casing. The spring, arranged in this manner, tends to maintain the lever in normal position with the pin 13 out of contact with the leaves 18.

The switch may be attached to any convenient part of the vehicle, as one of the side members of the frame, and for the purpose of securing the switch in place, screws or bolts may be engaged through apertures in one a wire, may have one of its ends engaged through any one of the holes 26 and twisted about itself so as to be made fast to the lever, while its opposite ends may be similarly conncctedto a speed control device of the vehicle as, for example, the brake pedal. In Fig. 2 the brake pedal is represented at 28 and the pull member or wire 27 is shown as secured directly to the yoke 29 which connects the brake rod 30 with the pedal. The hole 26 of the lever 8 through which the pull member is to be engaged is selected with respect to the throw of the brake pedal 28. If the brake pedal has a compartively short throw, the pull member or wire 27 is engaged through one of the upper holes 26, whereas if the brake pedal has a greater throw, the member or wire may be engaged through one of the holes 26 adjacent the end of the lever. In connecting the pull member to the pedal and lever it is desirable to leave considerable material in the looped ends of the member or wire and to make the Wrapping of the member or wire loose enough to permit slippage. The parts may then be connected without particular care for dimensions, and upon the first depression of the brake pedal, the element or wire 27 will lengthen through the slippage of its looped ends and the parts will thus be given their proper and permanent relation. Due to the fact that the lever 8 is of angular shape and arranged as shown, the switch cannot be injured through an excessive pull upon the member 27. This is because the lever can swing no further than a position in which its outer end is substantially parallel or in alignment with the member or wire 27, and when in such position, itsinner end is upright and the pin 13 is thus stopped before it reaches the vicinity of the fixed inner ends of the leaves 18, thus effectively preventing jamming of the switch and injury to the leaves.

The wires constituting the opposite sides of the electric circuit are connected to the binding posts 19, and when the pin 13 is moved between and into contact with the leaves 18 the circuit is closed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a switch of the character set forth, the combination of a pivoted lever, a pair of opposed resilient contact leaves between and in substantially parallel relation to which the lever is adapted to swing, and a contact member carried by and extending transversely of the lever-and arranged for wiping engagement with the contact leaves when the lever is swung between them, the leaves being curved on an are substantially concentric with the pivotal axis of the lever.

2. In a switch of the character set forth, the combination of a pivoted lever, a pair of reoaeoe resilient contact leaves arranged in face to face relation and movable toward and from each other and between and in substantially parallel relation to which the lever is adapted to swing, and a contact member carried by and extending transversely of the lever and arranged for wiping engagement with the contact leaves when swung between them through the instrumentality of the lever, a spring for maintaining the lever in normal position with the contact pin withdrawn from between the contact leaves and means for limiting the throw of said lever.

3. In a switch of the character set forth, in combination with a pull member by means of which the switch is adapted to be operated, a pivotally supported lever having one of its ends connected to the pull member, a pair of opposed resilient contact leaves between and in substantially parallel relation to which the opposite end of said lever is adapted to swing, and a contact element carried by the lever and arranged for wiping engagement with the contact leaves when the lever is swung between them, the pull member and adjacent end of the lever assuming a position in which the two are in substantial alignment when the end of the lever carrying the contact element has traveled less than its possible range of movement between the leaves.

4. In a switch of the character set forth, in combination with a pull member, a pivotally supported angle lever to one branch of which said element is connected, a pair of opposed resilient contact leaves between and in substantially parallel relation to which the opposite end of the lever is adapted to swing, and a contact element supported by the last mentioned end of said lever and arranged for wiping engagement with the contact leaves when said end of the lever is swung between them, the pull member and adjacent end of the lever assuming a position in which the two are in substantial alignment when the end of the lever carrying the contact element has traveled less than its possible range of movement between the leaves.

5. In combination with a switch element having an aperture, a bushing of insulating material engaged through said aperture, and a contact pin extending through the bushing and serving, when projected therethrough, to expand the bushing and thus bind it within the aperture.

6. In combination with a switch element having an aperture, a bushing of insulating material engaged through said aperture, and a contact pin extending through the bushing and serving, when projected therethrough, to expand the bushing on opposite sides of the switch element thereby to lock the bushing against longitudinal movement within the aperture.

7. In a switch of the character described, the combination of a casing, a shaft supported i 1,eea,eoe b g 3 withinsai'd casin an angular lever pivotally substantially concentric with said ivot, said mounted on sai shaft, 9. air of opposed. casing having a slot .in one si e thereof 19 bontact leaves "carried by an insulated from through which said lever projects, a pull said casing, a contaet member carried by said member connected with said lever, and means 5 lever and extending transversely thereof and for limiting the throw of said lever.

arranged for wiping engagement with said In'testimony whereof, I her'euntoaflix my contact lea'ves when said lever is swung about signature. E

its pivot, the leaves being curved on an arc SAMUEL LIPPERT. 

